Our Favorite Seychelles

byDave Jackson

The top Seychelles beaches are arguably found on the three main islands, but by no means should you be disappointed if you go looking for sandy stretches on some of the Outer Islands, such as Desroches and Fregate . Seychelles is very much a tropical paradise, and the beaches in Seychelles are ideal havens for the stressed and weary. You can also read more about Seychelles beaches on our main site. Although Mahe is the most developed and visited island its mountainous interior remains undisturbed. The islands 75 beaches are spectacular providing crystal clear water and safe swimming.

A private ferry service to Ste-Anne Island is organised by the Sainte Anne Resort (00 248 292000′ www.beachcomber-hotels.com), but this is available only to paying guests, or visitors who have booked to have lunch in the resort. In fact, some of the islands aren’t even permanently inhabited and accommodation can be found on fewer than 10. Your best bet for a budget bed is renting an apartment or bungalow, which can be rented at very reasonable rates.

While most of the islands remain uninhabited, the majority of the 80,700 Seychellois live on the island of Mahé (72,000), Praslin (6,500) and La Digue (2,000). The official and most widely spoken language is Creole, although most people also speak English and French. It was once the best and most popular beach in the Seychelles, but over the years tourists have discovered the more private and natural beaches of the smaller islands of the Seychelles. Now Beau Vallon is a very quiet beach, and the water is deeper here than most beaches. Bird Island is one of the principal nesting sites for the sooty tern and also hosts populations of lesser noddie and fairy terns. From May to November the spectacular colony of Sooty Terns can be seen raising their young.

Made up of hundreds of tiny islands and atolls, the Seychelles is pretty much in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 1,600 kms off the coast of Kenya. Getting there is easy enough – a short, four-hour flight from the UAE. The special Inner Islands New Year cruise departing on December 27 for eight-days and seven-nights is priced at $2,045 per person.

On La Digue, however, beautiful beaches can be found all around the island, of which probably Anse Patates, Anse Coco and Anse Source d’Argent are the most beautiful, all in their own way. Bounded on the other side by the curve of the island, you feel secluded. This is why year after year Anse Lazio is voted ” the best beach in the world ” by numerous travel publications and newspapers. We visited the island in 1987. Our hope is that tourism will not spoil the white fragile beaches.